Pins and Needles.......

[nellysgran]

I have just had a very uncomfortable night, being awake with terrible acid burning my throat and neck and up my jaw then pins and needles in my legs and feet and arms and hands. Does anyone else have any of these ??

[k3let]

Hi, Yes to all. Pins and needles when my RA is a bit unsettled, often after my Humira injection, and I am getting tested for B12 and Folic as it happens when they are low too. Had a really bad infection years ago that put me out for days. Ended up with Nueritis for 18 months afterwards which caused pins and needles. Often find when my body is fighting off a bug it kicks it off too. I take a tummy tablet Ranitidine for acid and often sleep with a bottle of gaviscon next to my bed to take a swig off when the acid starts. I think all our meds play havoc with our tummies and lower the way our body absorb nutrients which all lead to the above. Hope you get some peace tonight and get a sleep. If it is like mine it will pass , try a hot bath and maybe a wee massage to ease the discomfort xx

[nellysgran in reply to k3let]

Thank you k3let, I have felt a bit fluee today, so as you say maybe that started the pins and needles feeling, I will have a hot shower tonight before bed, (I cant have a bath as my knees wont let me get down and back up again !! ;-( )

Thanks for the advice x

[helixhelix in reply to k3let]

Do you take a proton pump inhibitor (ie tummy protector) such as Omeprazole or Lansaprazole? I find that they are better than ranitidine or other over the counter acid indigestion remedies, as rather than just neutralising the acid they stop it forming in first place.

And yes, I've also had periods of pins & needles but luckily never for more than a week or so. Polly

[k3let]

You are welcome! I got a Bath Manger from my Occ. therapist. It is like a big inflatable cushion that you inflate and deflate to get in and out of the bath - fantastic if you have bad knees! maybe worth an ask. I am never out of my bath now!!! Hope the shower helps xx

[Hidden]

Yes I had 3 weeks of extreme pins and needles everywhere about 2 months ago. I posted on here and concluded that it was caused by inflammation in the soft tissue - which my high ESR and an increase in stiffness and ache seemed to confirm. My rheumy passed on a message that he thought this was the case and I was switched from oral to injectable MTX. Tilda

[nellysgran]

Thanks Tilda T, I have only been on tablet Mtx for 4 weeks, but I will mention it to my rheumy when I see her on wednesday and see what she says, I will let you all know the outcome.

Wendy

[earthwitch]

Don't put up with acid burning - it needs to be reported to your GP so it can be treated, because otherwise it can cause permanent damage to your oesophagus, including pre-cancerous cells developing. What your GP should do first is try you on stomach protecting medication (either ranitidine or proton pump inhibitors) and if that doesn't work, then you may just have to stop the drug that is causing the acid reflux to happen. Being overweight doesn't help either, so if you are overweight, then a determined weight loss programme will help.

Ranitdine isn't necessarily "weaker" than PPIs - its just different, and in a lot of ways is a lot safer from long term effects, so don't necessarily think that "omeprazole is best" - your doctor can advise though.

[jenwight]

Hi only just seen this sorry to hear that you are not feeling so good I hope by now things are improving. I find omeprazole very good for the acid

I didnt know that pins and needles could be caused by RA ..... I was in a very bad Road Traffic accident 4 weeks ago and have really bad pins and needles in my arms and hands ever since, they have told me that it is probably whip lash & trapped nerve and one GP has said it is shingles but I am not convinced I have yet more medication which has given me an upset tummy yuck

Jen x

[whitedog]

Hi

I have to take Lansoprazole daily because of the acid burning. Before I was given it, the burning would be so severe it sometimes made me sick and I'd lie awake at night in agony. I take one every day now. I don't find Gaviscon etc strong enough.

Also - re the pins and needles. I get that on the soles of my feet in the cold. If I've been sitting outside in winter - say at a football match - my feet will be so numb at the end I can hardly walk. Some of my fingers also turn white at the end. I'm not sure if this is Raynaulds.

So many symptoms now, it's hard to know which disease is causing what!

[nellysgran in reply to whitedog]

Hi thank you for your answer, can i ask how many Lansoprazole you take as i have now been told to take 2 x 15mg a day, I hope this works.

[whitedog]

Hi

I take mine as one 30mg tablet every morning and it works wonders. The only time I ever get the burning sensations back is if I've forgotten to take a dose or run out of them.

I hope they work for you!